MadBum: 'If you use an opener in my game, I’m walking out of the ballpark'

Madison Bumgarner isn't a fan of the opener strategy.

The San Francisco Giants left-hander sent a blunt text during the winter meetings to manager Bruce Bochy after hearing the team would consider using the strategy in 2019.

Bochy spoke about the conversation while speaking with reporters on Saturday.

"If you use an opener in my game, I’m walking out of the ballpark," Bumgarner said to Bochy, according to Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com.

"It depends on how you’re pitching," Bochy replied, which prompted the Giants ace to reply with comments that can't be repeated, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The opener - a bullpen game with a reliever starting - was first deployed by the Tampa Bay Rays last season with great success. More teams began to use it as the year progressed, including in the playoffs.

Bullpen games are nothing new to baseball, however, the Rays started back-to-back games with the same reliever. The strategy defies the traditional role of a starting pitcher going through the lineup multiple times and pitching every fourth day due to rest.